"Fast & Furious" looks to bring box office out of the March doldrums

After the record grosses of January and February, the box office was down in March, led by the disappointing 'Watchmen'. With a new month, hopes are that the March doldrums will be just that - in March.

Debuting this weekend is the anticipated return of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker reteaming again for the 4th chapter of the franchise built on speed -- "Fast & Furious". Heading back to the streets where it all began, they rejoin Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster to blast muscle, tuner and exotic cars across Los Angeles and floor through the Mexican desert in the new high-octane action-thriller. Friday box office figures show it charging to the top of the box office on Friday, grossing a massive estimated $30.1 million.

"Monsters Vs. Aliens" slipped to second place with an estimated $8.9 million, heading for a weekend in the $35 million range. In third, "The Haunting in Connecticut" dove 62 percent to an estimated $3.7 million to take third place.

"I Love You, Man", on the other hand, had the best hold among nationwide releases. Easing 31 percent, the comedy made an estimated $2.7 million on Friday, bringing its total to $44.2 million in 15 days. "Knowing" rounded out the Top Five with an estimated $2.7 million for a $52.7 million total in 15 days.

Debuting in sixth place, "Adventureland" mustered a modest estimated $2.2 million , putting it on track for a sub-$6 million based on past movies of its ilk. New movie "Sunshine Cleaning", which was in limited release in March, had it's first weekend in nationwide release this weekend, mopping up an estimated $580,000 that points to a weekend of around $2 million.

My Top Ten predictions for this weekend:

1. Fast and Furious
2. Monsters Vs. Aliens
3. The Haunting In Connecticut
4. Adventureland
5. I Love You, Man
6. Knowing
7. Duplicity
8. Race to Witch Mountain
9. Sunshine Cleaning
10. 12 Rounds

We'll see how we do this weekend...